Patents by Inventor Lee W. Mueller
Lee W. Mueller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9085901Abstract: An internal shear panel for reducing the tendency of the upper portions of buildings to move relative to the foundation when lateral forces, such as those produced by winds and earthquakes, are applied to the walls. The shear panel is pre-assembled having two vertical posts and two diaphragm members interconnecting the posts. The panel also has an upper and a lower horizontal member that are connected to the posts and the diaphragm members. The lower horizontal member and the posts are configured to be attached via brackets to holdown bolts mounted in the foundation of a building and the upper horizontal member is configured to be attached to an upper plate of the wall. Hence, the shear panel can be installed by connecting the upper horizontal member to the upper portion of the wall and connecting the lower horizontal member to the holdown bolts in the foundation.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Publication number: 20130025222Abstract: An internal shear panel for reducing the tendency of the upper portions of buildings to move relative to the foundation when lateral forces, such as those produced by winds and earthquakes, are applied to the walls. The shear panel is pre-assembled having two vertical posts and two diaphragm members interconnecting the posts. The panel also has an upper and a lower horizontal member that are connected to the posts and the diaphragm members. The lower horizontal member and the posts are configured to be attached via brackets to holdown bolts mounted in the foundation of a building and the upper horizontal member is configured to be attached to an upper plate of the wall. Hence, the shear panel can be installed by connecting the upper horizontal member to the upper portion of the wall and connecting the lower horizontal member to the holdown bolts in the foundation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 8117788Abstract: Lateral motion devices are used in conjunction with relatively rigid shear assemblies to further dissipate shear forces on frame construction buildings. In one embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the shear assembly and the upper portion of the wall to permit relative motion therebetween and to absorb and dissipate a portion of the energy associated with shear force through spring-like behavior and deformation. In one embodiment, the energy dissipation is achieved by a plurality of corrugation structures, where the top of the corrugation is attached to the upper portion of the wall and the bottom of the corrugation is attached to an interconnecting assembly that is securely attached to the foundation.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Inventors: Lee W. Mueller, Reynaud L. Serrette
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Patent number: 8112968Abstract: An internal shear panel for reducing the tendency of the upper portions of buildings to move relative to the foundation when lateral forces, such as those produced by winds and earthquakes, are applied to the walls. The shear panel is pre-assembled having two vertical posts and two diaphragm members interconnecting the two vertical posts. The panel also has an upper and a lower horizontal member that are connected to the vertical posts and the diaphragm members. The lower horizontal member and the vertical posts are configured to be attached via brackets to holdown bolts mounted in the foundation of a building and the upper horizontal member is configured to be attached to an upper plate or rail of the wall. Hence, the shear panel can be installed by connecting the upper horizontal member to the upper portion of the wall and connecting the lower horizontal member to the holdown bolts in the foundation.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2000Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 7174679Abstract: Lateral motion devices are used in conjunction with shear assemblies to further dissipate shear forces on buildings. In one embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the shear assembly and the upper portion of the wall to permit relative motion therebetween and to absorb and dissipate a portion of the shear forces through expansion and/or compression of spring members. In another embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the foundation and the bottom of the shear assembly and in yet another embodiment, the lateral motion device is embedded in the foundation so as to be interposed between the anchor bolt and the foundation. The shear assembly can be either a panel assembly or an A-frame assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 7080487Abstract: Lateral motion devices are used in conjunction with shear assemblies to further dissipate shear forces on buildings. In one embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the shear assembly and the upper portion of the wall to permit relative motion therebetween and to absorb and dissipate a portion of the shear forces through expansion and/or compression of spring members. In another embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the foundation and the bottom of the shear assembly and in yet another embodiment, the lateral motion device is embedded in the foundation so as to be interposed between the anchor bolt and the foundation. The shear assembly can be either a panel assembly or an A-frame assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 7017312Abstract: A two-piece bracket adapted to resist forces in both tension and compression. The tension/compression bracket is formed from stamped, plate steel and is preassembled by clinching or with structural adhesives. The tension/compression bracket provides a range of adjustability of attachment to allow for a limited range of placement of other components that attach to the tension/compression bracket. In one embodiment, the tension/compression bracket includes a resilient resistance to tension forces. The resilient resistance is provided by a high spring constant coil spring. The resilient resistance provides a limited degree of movement under tension. The limited degree of movement is chosen by component selection to be non-damaging.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 6871456Abstract: Lateral motion devices are used in conjunction with shear assemblies to further dissipate shear forces on buildings. In one embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the shear assembly and the upper portion of the wall to permit relative motion therebetween and to absorb and dissipate a portion of the shear forces through expansion and/or compression of spring members. In another embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the foundation and the bottom of the shear assembly and in yet another embodiment, the lateral motion device is embedded in the foundation so as to be interposed between the anchor bolt and the foundation. The shear assembly can be either a panel assembly or an A-frame assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 6761001Abstract: Lateral motion devices are used in conjunction with shear assemblies to further dissipate shear forces on buildings. In one embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the shear assembly and the upper portion of the wall to permit relative motion therebetween and to absorb and dissipate a portion of the shear forces through expansion and/or compression of spring members. In another embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the foundation and the bottom of the shear assembly and in yet another embodiment, the lateral motion device is embedded in the foundation so as to be interposed between the anchor bolt and the foundation. The shear assembly can be either a panel assembly or an A-frame assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 6715258Abstract: An assembly to secure a shear assembly and attached building wall to a building foundation in order to resist uplift forces and to transfer vertical weight loads to the foundation. The assembly provides a degree of motion perpendicular to the plane of the wall in order to accommodate misplacement of anchor structures set in the building foundation. The assembly is configured and is attached to anchor structures in such a way as to accommodate a variety of protrusions of the anchor structures from the building foundation. The assembly provides additional convenience of use by being substantially pre-assembled. The assembly is also adapted to interconnect structural members in multi-story buildings.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2003Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 6560940Abstract: A two-piece bracket adapted to resist forces in both tension and compression. The tension/compression bracket is formed from stamped, plate steel and is preassembled by clinching. The tension/compression bracket provides a range of adjustability of attachment to allow for a limited range of placement of other components that attach to the tension/compression bracket. In one embodiment, the tension/compression bracket includes a resilient resistance to tension forces. The resilient resistance is provided by a high spring constant coil spring. The resilient resistance provides a limited degree of movement under tension. The limited degree of movement is chosen by component selection to be non-damaging.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 6550200Abstract: An assembly to secure a shear assembly and attached building wall to a building foundation in order to resist uplift forces and to transfer vertical weight loads to the foundation. The assembly provides a degree of motion perpendicular to the plane of the wall in order to accommodate misplacement of anchor structures set in the building foundation. The assembly is configured and is attached to anchor structures in such a way as to accommodate a variety of protrusions of the anchor structures from the building foundation. The assembly provides additional convenience of use by being substantially pre-assembled. The assembly is also adapted to interconnect structural members in multi-story buildings.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Publication number: 20020020122Abstract: Lateral motion devices are used in conjunction with shear assemblies to further dissipate shear forces on buildings. In one embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the shear assembly and the upper portion of the wall to permit relative motion therebetween and to absorb and dissipate a portion of the shear forces through expansion and/or compression of spring members. In another embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the foundation and the bottom of the shear assembly and in yet another embodiment, the lateral motion device is embedded in the foundation so as to be interposed between the anchor bolt and the foundation. The shear assembly can be either a panel assembly or an A-frame assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Publication number: 20020020136Abstract: A two-piece bracket adapted to resist forces in both tension and compression. The tension/compression bracket is formed from stamped, plate steel and is preassembled by clinching. The tension/compression bracket provides a range of adjustability of attachment to allow for a limited range of placement of other components that attach to the tension/compression bracket. In one embodiment, the tension/compression bracket includes a resilient resistance to tension forces. The resilient resistance is provided by a high spring constant coil spring. The resilient resistance provides a limited degree of movement under tension. The limited degree of movement is chosen by component selection to be non-damaging.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventor: Lee W. Mueller
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Patent number: 5706626Abstract: An internal shear panel for reducing the tendency of the upper portions of buildings to move relative to the foundation when lateral forces, such as those produced by winds and earthquakes, are applied to the walls. The shear panel is pre-assembled having two vertical posts and two diaphragm members interconnecting the two vertical posts. The panel also has an upper and a lower horizontal member that are connected to the vertical posts and the diaphragm members. The lower horizontal member and the vertical posts are configured to be attached via brackets to holdown bolts mounted in the foundation of a building and the upper horizontal member is configured to be attached to an upper plate or rail of the wall. Hence, the shear panel can be installed by connecting the upper horizontal member to the upper portion of the wall and connecting the lower horizontal member to the holdown bolts in the foundation.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1995Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Inventor: Lee W. Mueller